The Fantasy Premier League season kicks off on Friday 21 August, and with the squad-building deadline fast approaching, it pays to know which assets are worth your budget and which are best left on the shelf. BBC Sport's four experts — Pras, FPL Heisenberg, Gianni Buttice and Holly Shand — have gone through every top-flight club and identified a talisman, a differential and a player to avoid. Here are the highlights worth knowing.

Arsenal — the champions lead the way

Gabriel is the pick of the lot among defenders, priced at £8m. The Brazil centre-back topped the overall defender standings last season with 209 points, making him the most reliable route into what remains one of the division's strongest backlines. For those hunting value, Ben White at £5.5m offers attacking threat from right-back and is likely to see plenty of minutes while Jurrien Timber continues his recovery. The player to avoid, according to the experts, is new signing Christos Tzolis at £6.5m — an intriguing talent, but Mikel Arteta's tendency to rotate his wide attackers makes consistent starts far from guaranteed, and Arsenal are reportedly still looking to strengthen on the left.

Aston Villa — Watkins cheaper and potentially more dangerous

Ollie Watkins drops to £8m this season and, with Morgan Rogers having moved to Chelsea, he shapes up as the undisputed focal point of Unai Emery's attack. He has averaged 16 league goals across his past four campaigns at Villa, and with Youri Tielemans also departed, he may now inherit penalty duties. Matty Cash at £4.5m is the differential worth watching — six goal involvements last season, owned by roughly 8% of sides, and part of a defence that kept nine clean sheets. New loan arrival Alejandro Garnacho, coming in at £6m, is flagged as the one to sidestep. The Argentine managed just 1,261 minutes last season, contributing one goal and four assists, and faces a stiff challenge to dislodge Emi Buendia in midfield.

Bournemouth — value lurking in the Cherries

With Antoine Semenyo gone, Bournemouth lack a single headline act, but Marcus Tavernier at £6m fills the talisman role well enough. He is their chief creator and set-piece deliverer, and racked up 11 attacking returns last season. The standout differential from the Vitality Stadium, though, is left-back Adrien Truffert at £5.5m and only 5% ownership. The Frenchman finished as the club's second-highest FPL scorer last term with 165 points, ghosting into advanced positions and carrying genuine goal and assist threat. Evanilson at £6m is the one to leave well alone — six goals from 32 league starts does not compare favourably to the alternatives available at the same price point.

Brentford — Thiago the marquee forward pick

Igor Thiago is one of the most compelling premium forward options in the game this summer. The Brazilian striker netted 22 Premier League goals last season, banking 181 FPL points in the process, and Brentford will again build their attack around him. At £8m he carries a significant price hike, but the experts believe the upside is clear — Brentford will keep finding him inside the box, and he has the profile to deliver big hauls in clusters.

What the experts agree on

  • Gabriel (Arsenal, £8m) — the top defensive asset in the game.
  • Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa, £8m) — cheaper entry point to a reliable scorer with new penalty responsibilities.
  • Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth, £5.5m) — the best-value differential among defenders so far.
  • Igor Thiago (Brentford, £8m) — premium forward with a proven goal-scoring pedigree.
  • Alejandro Garnacho (Aston Villa, £6m) — a name that attracts attention, but the underlying numbers do not back it up.

The market will inevitably shift between now and the deadline, but the noises out of the FPL community suggest Gabriel and Watkins are already among the most-selected picks as managers finalise their squads. With 21 August coming round quickly, the time to get your decisions locked in is now.

Frequently asked

Who is the best FPL defender for 2026-27?
According to BBC Sport's FPL experts, Gabriel of Arsenal is the standout defensive pick. He finished as the top-scoring defender last season with 209 points and costs £8m.
What is the FPL deadline for the 2026-27 season?
The Fantasy Premier League season begins on Friday 21 August 2026. Managers must finalise their squads before the deadline ahead of that opening gameweek.
Is Alejandro Garnacho worth picking in FPL?
The experts advise caution. Garnacho, on loan at Aston Villa from Chelsea, managed just one goal and four assists in 1,261 minutes last season. At £6m, the view is that more consistent options exist at the same price.